The performance was okay, I think the song itself carried a lot of weight this time. Although very creative and cool in the video, the sync movement just fell short in real life. Perhaps due to the lack of control over the camera angles, but it just didn't recreate the same cool effect from the video. Decent performance but I expected more from Will.I.AM. ~alx.O

All I can say is WOW!! My childhood crush on JLo remains fully intact. She's putting women younger than her to shame. She killed that shit. And no matter how you feel about her actual singing abilities, she definitely takes the crown for remaining relevant all these years and still being able to put out good music. And as far as Pitbull goes, again club bass and some rhymes and it sounds dope. ::Pitbull voice:: "Dale" ~alx.O

I really enjoy the energy that Miguel brings to the stage, especially with his James Brown-esque style footwork. but some real shit, WOW he messed that poor girl up. Right at the 2:58 mark this dude slams that girls head and keeps it moving like nothing. Definitely a professional but he better send that girl some flowers or something. ~alx.O

I think Pitbull can add club bass and rhymes to just about anything and it'll sound good..lol So its no surprise that both he and Ms Christina had a great performance, but wow Morten Harket coming out at the end, that was kinda out of left field…lol Fortunately for me tho, I've always liked the original song by A-ha, so this was definitely a pleasant surprise. ~alx.O

Bruno Mars, in my strong opinion, continues to be the breath of fresh air I need in Pop music. He always brings his own flare and layers it with very cool funk/disco grooves that makes staying still a difficult task. I thought the matching red suits was very reminiscent of those old 70's R&B groups, and they set a great visual for performance. ~alx.O

Something worth watching I thought. I'll reserve my opinion as I do not want to, in any way, alter your own interpretation of what is being proposed in this scene. I would, however, ask that you consider all things with an open mind and as unbiased as you possibly can. ~alx.O

I've been following Michael Francis for a lil while now and he just keeps getting better and better. As a jersey native, I'm glad to see someone from my walks of life making great music and for filling their dreams. ~alx.O

Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre give $70 million to create new academy at USC

By Dan Lacovara

Entrepreneurs and music industry icons Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre (Andre Young), already known as forward-thinking visionaries in music and business, are giving $70 million to USC to create a unique undergraduate experience.

The goal of the academy is to shape the future by nurturing the talents, passions, leadership and risk-taking of uniquely qualified students who challenge conventional views of art and industry. The academy will attract students who are motivated to explore and create new art forms, technologies and business models — and who will benefit from a stimulating environment that fosters exploration and discovery beyond traditional educational and disciplinary boundaries.

“The vision and generosity of Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young will profoundly influence the way all of us perceive and experience artistic media,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “USC provides an extraordinarily rich academic, research and artistic environment. We are committed to encouraging our students to use their intellectual and creative resources to effect change in all segments of society. Our goal is to ensure that the academy is the most collaborative educational program in the world.”

To meet student interests and to meld inspiration with education, the academy’s specially designed courses will provide students with a solid background in the integration of technology with all aspects of creativity along with a thorough understanding of existing and potential business, marketing and distribution strategies.

Drawing on the expertise of top faculty from the USC Marshall School of Business, the USC Roski School of Fine Arts, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Thornton School of Music, the academy will also host industry icons and innovators as visiting faculty and guest speakers. It will offer a highly select group of students an integrated, four‑year course of study that will provide in-depth learning in engineering and computer science, fine arts and graphic design, business, and leadership models. Team-taught interdisciplinary courses will be developed and adapted specifically for the program.

The Iovine and Young Academy will focus on four core curriculum areas: arts and entrepreneurship; technology, design and marketability; concept and business platforms; and creating a prototype.

The academic program will include one-on-one faculty mentoring, opportunities to interact with luminaries from the arts and entertainment industry serving as guest speakers and lecturers, and a broad array of internship opportunities for students.

During their fourth and final year, academy students will take up residence in an experiential setting called the “Garage.” Grouped into self-directed teams, which may include nonacademy students from across the university, these students will determine a project that can be developed into a prototype over the course of the year.

Appropriate faculty members, other artists and business leaders will serve as mentors to each group, and venture capitalists and other real-world experts will be introduced to give students advice and direction. All of these elements will combine into one unique educational experience, where working together, students will challenge one another to take even greater risks in innovation.

“Flexibility is a hallmark of USC, and the academy’s curriculum is incredibly adaptive,” said USC Roski Dean Erica Muhl, who will serve as the academy’s inaugural director. “The curriculum was created to take full advantage of a newly designed, revolutionary educational space that will offer students very powerful tools. Academy students will have the freedom to move easily from classroom to lab, from studio to workshop, individually or in groups, and blow past any academic or structural barriers to spontaneous creativity.

“The academy’s core education will create a common, multilingual literacy and fluency across essential disciplines,” she continued. “This ‘big picture’ knowledge and skill will equip graduates with a leadership perspective that is unparalleled in an undergraduate degree, and that will be applicable to virtually any industry.”

USC’s strategic location in Los Angeles — widely viewed as the creative and media capital of the world — provides an opportunity for students to take advantage of a living laboratory where music, film and visual arts are deeply intertwined. In addition, the university’s proximity to the city’s burgeoning “Silicon Beach” as well as Northern California’s Silicon Valley provides access to an array of technological advances from which students can draw inspiration.

The academy will enroll its first class of 25 students in fall 2014. Applicants will be accepted based on a rigorous review process encompassing demonstrated academic excellence as well as proven ability for original thought. Students who complete a course of study in the academy will graduate with a degree that recognizes each individual’s ability to engage and succeed in an educational experience that is constantly asking the question, “Why not?”

Iovine, chairman of Universal Music Group’s Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records, is one of the music industry’s most accomplished and respected leaders. Iovine began his four-decade career as a recording engineer, working with the likes of John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen. As record producer, he was instrumental in the career breakthroughs of artists such as Patti Smith, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, U2, Stevie Nicks, Dire Straits and The Pretenders.

Born in Compton, Calif., hip-hop pioneer/producer Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Crew. In 1986, he co-founded N.W.A. and won critical and commercial acclaim with the group’s 1988 landmark rap album Straight Outta Compton. In 1992, Dre released his solo debut, the G-funk masterpiece The Chronic, which Rolling Stone hailed as one of the greatest albums ever made.

With the launch of his own record company, Aftermath Entertainment, in 1996, Dre went on to discover and nurture such next-generation hip-hop superstars as 50 Cent, The Game, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem.

In 2006, Iovine and Dre co-founded Beats Electronics, a high-performance headphone and sound transmission company intent on recapturing the fidelity of the studio. With its expansion into smartphones and car audio systems, Beats by Dr. Dre has captured 40-percent market share of the entire billion-dollar headphones industry.

Personally, I have no idea where this new album is going but it seems as though Kanye is taking a very controversial position and saying some crazy shit. And to top that, he's on SNL, a largely white demographic show that's on one of this biggest Tv networks in America, force feeding the topic of modern racism, corporate racism, and consumerism. And though yes, to many it may seem that he fell into the "Angry Black Man" stigma, But I think it's quite the opposite. I think he showcased control and poise as he preformed two of the most intense songs I've ever heard from him. Creatively, I admire his courage and artistically, I am transfixed with his vision. He's talking about the same things that all the conspiracy theorists are talking about. The same "Corporations are controlling our lives" lingo that facebook is littered with daily. My only question is, will the people embrace the message or ignore it because it's Kanye West that's delivering it? ~alx.O